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Databases

Each VIP Platform WordPress environment is supported by a unique database. Unique databases per-environment allows testing to be performed on non-production environments without impacting the production environment.

To improve database performance, WPVIP uses Automattic’s HyperDB db.php drop-in. HyperDB is configured to send writes to an environment’s master database and sends reads to database replicas. No other db.php drop-ins can be used on the platform.

Note

The DB_NAME constant is undefined on the VIP Platform. Attempting to use the $wpdb->dbname property or the DB_NAME constant will return null. Any SQL queries relying on this value within a prepared statement will not behave as expected.

The size of an environment’s database can be reviewed in the Database Backups panel or the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.

  • Import database files

    Use VIP-CLI to import a full database file when migrating a site to the VIP Platform, or import a partial database file to update specific tables on a WordPress environment.

  • Custom database tables

    If necessary, custom tables can be added to a VIP Platform environment’s database. When adding a custom database table, use caution and follow best practices.

  • Supported character sets and collations

    In order to avoid unexpected issues, SQL database files for import should use the utf8mb4 character set.

  • Optimize database queries

    Learn how to identify slow queries and optimize the underlying code to improve site performance and resilience.

  • Database Backups

    Database Backups run automatically for all WordPress environments and can be viewed and downloaded in the application view of the VIP Dashboard and with VIP-CLI.

  • Partial Database Exports

    Partial Database Exports with VIP-CLI allow a custom set of data to be exported from the current state of a VIP Platform environment’s database.

  • Database access

    Direct access to an environment’s database is limited, but users can view data in a read-only phpMyAdmin console session or interact with the databases on WPVIP through WP-CLI commands run via VIP-CLI.

  • Data sync from production to non-production environments

    Data syncs from a production environment to a non-production environment can be performed in the VIP Dashboard or with VIP-CLI.

  • Data sync between environments

    A data sync operation copies a WordPress database, including media files, from a source environment to a destination environment within the same application. On the WordPress VIP Platform, data sync operations are multi-directional: a sync can run in any direction between environments, including from a non-production environment into production. The source environment supplies the data, and the destination environment receives it. A data sync is initiated from the Sync Data page in the VIP Dashboard. The destination is always the environment that is currently selected in the VIP Dashboard. The source is selected on the page. Prerequisites To initiate a…

  • Export a SQL file from a site not hosted at WordPress VIP

    To migrate the content of a WordPress site to an environment on the WordPress VIP Platform, a SQL database file must be exported from the non-VIP site.

Last updated: October 01, 2026

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  • WordPress